Chapter 5

Once Wilma had left, Tamara said in a trembling voice, "Benny, you should take Sophia home first. I…"

"What's wrong with your leg?" Benjamin asked, his sharp eyes keenly noticing that she wasn't walking properly and seemed to be limping a little.

Since Graham was still in the room, Tamara couldn't say much. She simply gave Benjamin a conflicted look.

On the way home, Sophia sat in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed outside the window as her mind wandered.

"What did Mom say to Tammy today?" Benjamin asked, the concern in his eyes blatantly obvious.

Tamara's injured leg could have only been the result of Wilma making things difficult for her.

"I don't know," Sophia replied evenly.

"Why wouldn't you know? You were there with them, weren't you? Didn't I tell you to try to talk to Mom? Don't you know how much Tammy has to go through living there by herself? As her sister-in-law, how can you—"

"Mom told me to take Danny to the garden. I don't know what they talked about." Sophia cut him off as she couldn't be bothered to listen to his lecture.

Benjamin went quiet at once. Although his lips parted, he couldn't say anything.

The car remained silent until they reached the house.

Just when Sophia thought Benjamin wouldn't say anything again, she heard his voice again. "Once Danny gets better, I'll bring him and Tammy home for a few days."

His hand rested on the steering wheel, his index finger tapping lightly against it.

The words pulled Sophia out of her absentminded thoughts. Tamara and Daniel were staying at Hartman Manor, so the "home" Benjamin referred to could only mean the house they shared.

"Why?" she questioned.

"You saw Mom and Grandma's attitude today. Tammy has to suffer a ton of grievances staying there. Mom and Grandma are still holding Bryan's death against her. Not only did she suffer today, but Danny also—"

"So what?" Sophia interrupted with a sneer. "Are you blaming me for what happened? You think it's my fault Danny got a fever? Even though you saw the footage, you still don't believe me?"

"That's not what I meant," Benjamin slowly explained himself. "Even though you didn't push Danny, Mom told you to keep an eye on him. If he fell into the water, that meant you didn't do a good job looking after him. Danny wouldn't have gotten a fever if you hadn't been busy with your phone call. When it comes down to it, you're partially responsible, too."

Toward the end, his tone became accusing.

Sophia let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Why don't you ask Danny why he suddenly decided to jump into the water? Did someone tell him to do it?"

She rarely made such biting remarks, and it greatly displeased Benjamin.

"Sophia! Why are you being so harsh today?"

The nerve of him to accuse her of being harsh after the sordid things he'd done!

But the words remained stuck in Sophia's mouth. She couldn't get them out.

"Either way, I won't allow it. They can't move in with us."

Her frosty tone displeased Benjamin again, but he reined in his temper and said, "It's precisely because of Mom and Grandma's attitude that Tammy needs to stay out of their sight for a while. Otherwise, she'll suffer a lot more."

After a pause, he added, "Don't worry. I won't let them stay for too long. After all, it's still our home. It wouldn't be appropriate for them to stay for an extended period of time. Once Mom and Grandma have come around, I'll take them back to Hartman Manor."

Sophia stared straight ahead and asked calmly, "And if I insist that you can't let them move in with us?"

Benjamin's eyes flickered. "Sophia, I know you don't want to agree to it, but Tammy is family. She needs help. I can't just ignore her troubles and—"

"That's enough!" She suddenly interrupted him, unable to hear any more of his excuses. "Did you forget what Mom said? Do you and Tamara share such a close bond? You keep saying Tammy this and Tammy that. How do you think that sounds to other people? Have you considered the Hartman family's reputation?"

As if catching on to her insinuation, Benjamin was in disbelief. "How can you even think that, Sophia? How can something so vile and immoral even cross your mind? I'm just trying to look after her for Bryan's sake."

"And you're not afraid that I won't do a good job of taking care of them? That Danny will get sick again because of me?"

"You would never, Sophia. You're a good person. You're so kind and thoughtful. I'm sure you'll do a great job taking care of them," Benjamin declared.

Sophia wanted to ask if that gave him the right to blatantly abuse her kindness and use her to hide their sordid affair.

"Grandma wants us to have a child," Sophia said out of nowhere. "It'd be inconvenient to have them around."

Benjamin stiffened for a moment before saying somewhat helplessly, "Sophia, you know about my condition…"

"We can do IVF. The doctor didn't say you're infertile. It's about time we both get checked anyway. Even though we've been married for years now, I still don't know what your condition is, exactly. Maybe you've already recovered," Sophia deliberately suggested.

"Sophia," Benjamin chided wearily. "I told you, I don't want too many people finding out about this. It's my body. I'd know perfectly well whether I've recovered or not."

"So you're just going to keep dragging your feet, refusing to do a checkup? You think you can solve the issue by hiding it like that?" Sophia was determined to push him, so she didn't let him back out.

"We can't keep maintaining this situation. Grandma's greatest wish is for us to have a child. You heard her yourself today. Don't tell me you expect me to shoulder all the blame and responsibility alone each time Grandma brings it up. Mom even mocked me about it today. I don't want to be your scapegoat for the rest of my life."

"What are you even saying? We're husband and wife, Sophia. Isn't it normal for us to support each other? How can you say I'm using you as my scapegoat?"

In the past, Benjamin's words would've made Sophia waver, but now, she no longer fell for his gaslighting tricks.

"Yes, you're right. As you said, married couples should support each other. I'd love to keep covering for you, Benjamin, but I'm a woman with needs of my own. I can't accept a husband who treats me so coldly, nor can I endure the pressure from your mother and grandmother, who keep pressing me to have a child.

"As the saying goes, only the wronged know how injustice feels. You're perfectly aware that you're the reason why we don't have any children. But whenever Mom lectures me about it, you don't try to defend me, either. I can't hold on any longer."

Benjamin's heart softened at her words. He subconsciously reached for her shoulder, saying assuringly, "I know how hard it's been on you, Sophia. I'll talk to Mom about it."

And, shockingly, he took the initiative to hug her.

Ever since they got married, he'd been as cold and distant as a stranger. He barely showed her a hint of affection, let alone do something this intimate with her.

But the smell of Tamara's gardenia-scented perfume that clung to him made Sophia gag. She didn't feel moved at all, only nauseated.

After surreptitiously pushing him away, she said, "It's late. I'm going to shower and get ready for bed."